Apparatus for unwinding yarn



l March 6, 1945. n A. J. MORITZ ET AL 2,370,746

APPARATUS FOR UNWINDING YARN Filed Jan. 19, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l I llllll qlllllnl 4 4 mmmv March 6, 1945. A. J. L. MORITZ ET Al. 2,370,746

l APPARATUS FOR UNWINDING YARN Filed Jan. 19, 1944 '2 sheets-sheet 2 MM www Patented Mar. 6,

UNITED sTATrJsl PATENT: OFFICE l 2,370,746 1 i APPARATUS Fon' UNWINDING YARN Adrian J. L. Moritz, Jacobus G. Schoonderwoerd, Willem J. D. van Dobbcnburgh, and Paul W.

Markwood, Enka, N. C., assignors to American Enka Corporation, Enka, N. C., a corporation y of Delaware Application January 19, 1944, 'serial No. '518,872

. s claims. (ci. 242-129) The present invention-'relates to unwinding thread and the like from yarn packages, and

more particularly to a method and apparatus for continuously removing rayon from pot spun packageswhich initially have no interior supports or rewoun'd bobbin spun packages.

It is now common practice in the rayon industry to aftertreat freshly spun rayon in the original pacakge form and subsequently rewind the same. In the case of pot spun rayon, the package has no initial interior support and it is with this type oi' package that the presentl invention is primarily concerned. However, in some cases where other types of packages are produced'such as bobbin spun packages, they may be partially aftertreated and later rewound on a holder that is removable. The present invention may also be applicable to these types of packages,

The interior layers of these unsupported or hollow packages become loosened and often slough ou during the unwinding operation. This is clue primarily to the absence of the support vpreviously furnished by the outer layers and to the fact that the packages have been dried without internal supports, thereby resulting in a certain amount of suppleness vand crinkle in the inner layers. Ii no precautions are taken, such loosening incurs tangling, which impedes the unwinding of the said interior layers of the package. Accordingly, various forms of inserts have beenv employed which have corrected this diiiiculty to vice which acts to support the package during the ner of the gure t0 illustrate, in elevation, the

supporting means;

Fig e 2 is a view Figure 3 is a view inlsection taken iromthe position lof Figure 2, butillustrating the position 'assumed by the thread package support when the thread package has been substantially unsome extent, but h1 cases where the proper tenvsion is imposed on the interior convolutions of the packages, a rather complicated support is employed which has to be 'controlled manually during the unwinding operation. Examples of such supports are disclosed in U. S. Patents Nos.

2,245,937 and 2,285,826. In both of these cases it will be seen that a spring controlled device is set in operation by means of a foot treadle which is locked in position manually during the un- It is, therefore, the object of the present lnvention to provide a device for unwinding thread such as rayon from a package which has had no interior support duringsome steps of manufacturing, while automatically maintaining the interior layers of the package taut during the coml plete unwinding operation.

The invention further contemplates the application of continuous outward pressure to the interior convolutions of the packages while the unwinding step is being eiiected.

Another object of this invention is the prov- Figure 4 is a view in end elevation of the apparatus of Figure 1 illustrating in vbrokenlines the position to which the weight'biasing vmeans moves during an unwinding operation;

Figure 5 is a view in en d elevation similar to Figure 4, but concerned with a modification ci the invention in which the weight is eliminated,

and

Figure 6 is a view partially in vertical section V and partially in elevation of the modified form of .apparatus 'of Figure 5.

AReferring now in greater detail to the drawings, and more particularly to Figures 1 to 4. in-

clusive thereof, the numeral I0 designates a wound package oi thread winch is interiorlysup- `ported at a plurality of circumferentially spaced points by axially extending rods II. Rods. II are held in position by integral depending shanks I2 and I3 bent downwardly adjacent the ends of each rod 'and extending inwardly toward the axis of package IIl. Each shank I2 terminates in an intgeral projection I4 which is inserted for free rotation but anchored in an aperture in a disk 15,-said disk being mounted upon and keyed to sion of a simple thread package supporting dca shaft I6 disposed concentrically within package I0. Upon reference to Figure 2 it will be seen 4that the apertures in disk I5 are equally spaced in a circular path concentric .to shaft I6.

Intermediate projection I4 and rod II. eachv depending shank I2 is passed through an opening in an annular iulcrum member Il, the openings in section taken on 1ine'2-24 of Figur 1;

being equally spaced about the annular member, one being provided for each depending shank I2. Annular fulcrum member I1 is a iiange extending outwardly from a circular plate I8, which is attached by rivets I9 to the ange 28 of a sleeve 2| which overlies and is in bearing engagement with shaft I6. Upon reference toFigure 1 it will be seen that sleeve 2| acts as a bearing for shaft i6, the latter being rotatable within the former. A support 22 surrounds the left hand end of sleeve 2| as it is viewed in Figure 1, said support being held in position by a bracket 23 to which it is connected by a bolt 24 and a nut 25. Support.

22 is held stationary by the foregoing construction and is keyed to sleeve 2|, so that the latter is held stationary as well as parts 20, I8 and I1 con.. nected thereto. Shaft I5, however, is rotatable, and when it turns disk l will turn with it. Thus, if disk I5 is biased in a counterclockwise direction, as it is viewed in Figure 2, bearing in mind that annular fulcrum member |1 is stationary, it will be'seen that depending shanks |2 will be moved from the position of Figure 2 to substantially the radial position of Figure 3'. Inasmuch as the openings in member I1 are xed with respect to the axis of the package, this movement is accompanied by an increase in the effective distance between rods |I and the axis of the package. In-

- terior expansion of the package results.

In one form of the invention, the rotation of disk I5 discussed in the preceding paragraph is brought about by a weight 26 which is attached by a hanger 21 to the end of a lever 28 having a hub 29 keyed to shaft I6. So that the effective force at the hub may be varied, the right-hand end of lever 28, as it is viewed in Figure 4, is provided with a number of holes 38, in which hanger 21 may be placed.

It is now evident that when the package is in the Figure 2 position, Weight 26 is biasing' shaft I5 in a counterclockwise direction, tending to urge disk I5 to the Figure 3 position. As the package is unwound and the compressive effect of the outer layers thereof upon the inner layers is relieved, the biasing effect of weight 26 results in gradual rotation of disk |5 to maintain the interior convolutons of the package under tension so as to avoid tangling during an unwinding operation such as that involved in the preparation of warp beams, in which a numberv of packages are simultaneously unwound while supported on a Creel.

inasmuch as movement of lever 28 beyond the Figure 3 position would result in reduction in the effective distance between rods and shaft i6, it is necessary to provide a stop to inhibit counterclockwise rotation of shaft |6 at the Figure 3 position. To this end a pin 3| projects outwardly from support 22 in a position to be engaged by a diametrically disposed pin 32 passed through shaft I6. As can best be seen in Figure 4, engagement of pin 32 against pin 3| will stop the` rotation of shaft I6 brought about by weight 26.

The action upon depending members I3 at the right-hand end of Figure 1 has not been described in detail in connection with the foregoing for the reason that it is similar in all respectsl to the action upon depending members I2. Note that annular fulcrum member 33 has openings therein to receive depending members I3, and that said fulcrum memberis held in position by a disk 34 mounted for free rotation about shaft I6 ina hub 35. A disk 36 similar to disk I5 is keyed to shaft I6 and is provided witha plurality of holes for the reception and anchoring of projections 31 from depending shanks I3. The` eiect of rotation of disk 36 on depending Shanks I3 is exactly the same as the eiTect of rotation of disk I5 on shanks I2.

In the event the package HJ has been previously covered with a fabric sock in order to facilitate aftertreating operations, then the sock must be suiiiciently unfolded to be out ofthe Way during unwinding of the package.. This is effected as shown in Figure 1, namely, by folding the ends of sock 36 back over the ends of the package and depositing each end of the sock into the space provided at the respective ends of the package supporting apparatus. This space is created at the right hand end of Figure l by extending rods beyond the point at which shank I3 depends. To close the space and enclose the end of sock 38, a ber cap 39 is provided and maintained in position by means of a split wood block 40 attached thereto and carrying a rubber ring 4|. At theleft hand end of Figure 1, the sock 38 is .en closed in the space between cap 42 and a iiber cap 43 maintained in position by means of a split wood block 44 attached thereto and carrying a rubber ring 45. The cap 42 is mounted between plate i8 and flange 28 by means of rivets I9 which hold the cap in fixed relation therewith.

Now referring to Figures 5 and 6, the construction is quite similar to that illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, except that instead of a counterl weight such as 26, the movement of rods away from the center of the package is eiected by the weight of the package itself. In this case shaft I8 is keyed to the hub 46 of a lever 41 while sleeve 2| is keyed to a sleeve 48 at one' end of a link 49,

the other end of which is pivotally attached at 50 to a supporting arm 5|. Depending from supporting arm 5| is a member 52 carrying stop pins 53 and 54 which lie in the path of possible movement of lever 41 and serve to prevent any substantial rotary movement 0f shaft |6.

In this instance the entire weight of'the assembly is carried by sleeve 2| so that the tendency of link 49 is to depend vertically from pivot point 50. In view of the fact that sleeve 48, which constitutes the end of link 46, is keyed to sleeve 2|, it is evident that the angular relationship between sleeve 48 and sleeve 2| will not change in response to any bodily movement of link 49 about its point of pivot 5D. This being the case, annular fulcrum member |1, which is keyed with sleeve 2|, will stay in the same relative position'with respect to link 49. On the other hand, shaft I6, which has keyed thereto disk I5, will only be rotated relative to the remainder of the assembly, due to the fact that lever 41, which is keyed' to shaft I6, cannot, because of stops 53 and 54, move bodily with link 49. Since this bodily movement is prevented, the angular position of lever 41 relative to link 49 must change as the latter moves toward its depending position illustrated in broken lines in Figure 5. The relative rotation of member I1 with respect to shaft I6 y.causes disk l5 to assume a position such as that illustrated in Figure 3 when link 49 depends vertically from supporting arm 5|.

In use, the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 involves onlyplacing the package in position with link 49 defining with supporting arm 5| an angleequal to or greater than that involved in the full line illustration of Figure 5. When the package is released the assembly will fall to the full line position ci Figure 5, and will thereafter gradually move to the asvdno broken line positionof that figure as the com,-

pression on the inner convolutions of thread is released, permitting expansion of supporting .elements Il, in turn permitting rotation of i'ulbe biased by their respective levers against the' inner convolutions of the package, tending to v, gitudlnally extending means outwardly compris` radially expand it. This keeps said inner conthat others may be enabled to modify it and apply it in numerous forms each as may be best 'suited to conditions and requirements in any particular instance. The invention is to be limited only to the extent of the annexed claims.

What'is claimed is:

l. A A device for supporting hollow thread pack-l ages in a non-rotatable manner and tensioning the interior convolutions thereof during unwinding which comprises radially extensible means for engaging the inner convolutions of thread and means controlled from the weight of the package for extending the said extensible means whereby the inner convolutions are distended throughout the unwinding operation. l

2. A device for supporting hollow threadpackfor engaging the inner convolutions of thread, rotatable shaft means for extending the said extensible means and a weight means for` rotating said shaft means whereby the inner convolutions are distended throughout the unwinding operation.

3. A device for supporting and tensioningl the interior convolutions of ahollow thread package ,during unwinding which comprises, longitudinally extending means for contacting the inner convolutions of thread, means for moving the longitudinally extending means outwardly comprising a fulcrum means, an anchor means, levers passing through said fulcrum means and connecting said longitudinally extending means to said anchor means and means for effecting relative rotary movement between said fulcrum means and said anchor means whereby the longi` tudinally extending means are moved outwardly to distend-the inner convolutions of the thread package during unwinding. l I

4. A device for supporting and tensioning the interior convolutions of a hollow thread package during unwinding which comprises, longitudinally extending means for contacting the innerconvolutions of thread, means for moving the longitudinally extending means outwardly comprising a fulcrum means, an anchor means, levers passing through said fulcrum means and connecting -said longitudinally extending means to said anchor means, a'shaft, said anchor means being keyed to said shaft, and said fulcrum means being rotatable with respect to said shaft and weight means acting to rotate said shaft to increase the* effective radial length of said levers, whereby the thread package during unwinding.

5. Avdevice for supporting and tensioning the. interior convolutions of a hollow thread package during unwinding which comprises, longitudinally extending means for contacting the inner ccn volutions of thread, means for moving the 1oning a -fulcrum means, an anchor means, levers passing through said fulcrum means and connecting said longitudinally extending means to said anchor means, a shaft, said anchor means being keyed to said shaft,V and said fulcrum means being rotatable with respect to saidv shaft and `means responsive to the weight of the package and the foregoing parts for eiective yrelative movement between said fulcrum means and said anchor means to increase the effective radial length of said levers,V whereby the longitudinally extending means are moved outwardly to distend the inner convolutions of the thread package during unwinding.

6. A device for supportingiand tensioning the interior convolutions of a hollow thread package during unwinding which comprises, circumfer v for free pivotal movement in each of said means about axes normal-to the radial plane in which they lie, said two means being concentrically dis-` posed diiferent radial distances inwardly from Vsaid elements, means supporting said fulcrum `means in stationary position, a shaft, said anchor plate means being keyed to 'said shaft, and weight means biasing said shaft for rotation to increase the effective radial length of said levers, whereby the elements may be expanded to distend the inner convolutions of the thread package during unwinding. i y

7. A device for supportingl and tensioning the interior convolutions of a hollow thread package during unwinding which comprises, circumferentially and axially spaced longitudinally extending elements adapted to contact the interior of and support the thread body, levers converging inwardly from said elements in a radial plane, fulcrum means, anchor platemeans, said levers being mounted for free pivotal movement in each oi.' said means about axes normal to the radial plane in which they lie, said two means being concentrically disposed dierent radial distances inwardly from said elements and means responsive to the weight of the package and foregoing parts for bia'sing said anchor plate' means relative to said fulcrummeans to increase the effective radial length of said levers, whereby the elements may be expanded to distend the inner convolutions of the thread package during unwinding.

, 8. A device forsupporting and tensioning durl' ing unwinding the interior convolutions of a hollow thread package having a fabric sock covering which comprises, circumferentially and y axially spaced longitudinally extending elements adapted yto contact the interior of the thread body,f1evers said two means being concentrically disposed different radial distances inwardly from said elelongitudinally extending means are moved out- 76 ments. means Supporting said fulcrum means in wardiy to distend the inner convolutions of the stationary position, a shaft, means provided at each end oi' said shaft for receiving the respective ends oi' said sock, said anchor plate means being Il reyedv to saidshaft, and weight means biasing said 'shaft for rotation to increase the eiective radial length of said levers, whereby the ele- Y ments may be expanded to distend the inner confor free pivotal movement in each of said means about axes normal to the radial plane in which they lie, said two means being concentrically disposed dierenf, radial distances inwardly from said elements, means provided at each end of said device for receiving the respective ends of said sock, and means responsive to the weight of the package and foregoing parts for biasing said anchor plate means relative to said fulcrum means to increase the effective radial length of said levers, whereby the elements may be expanded to distend the inner convolutions of the thread package during unwinding.,

ADRIAN J. L. MORITZ.

JACOBUS G. SCHOONDERWOERD. WILLEM J. D. VAN DOBBENBURGH. PAUL W. MARKWOOD. 

